Telegram-herald., 1887-12-04
The WATER QUESTION.
Why the Bonds should not be voted-A
Man who Dislikes Bonded Indebted
ness and River Water.

Communication 70 Weekly Workman"
The Board OF Public Works have asked
the voters to give them quarter of a
million dollars to replace with iron the
wood en- pipe they put down few years
ago. and extend the present system OF
mains twenty-three miles. This with the
twenty seven miles Of pipe already down
in the city, wall give fifty miles OF pipe on
the one hundred and sixty miles OF streets
in Grand Rapids. or less than one-third. In
the same proportion they viii require hslf
a million dollars more next year To CON-
plefe the system.
The Couaty Board will also require $780,
600 neNs year for q new court house. more
than nalf OF which, viii come on 10 the
civ This increase OF Indebtedness will
amount TO a totsi Of about one million
dollars. or q one hundred do lar mortgage
on every home containing nve persons in
the city. provided the waser bonds are all
voted
Already the city credit has declined ia
view of this pros pectiye increase OF indebt-
edness One year ago four per cent. bonds
could De sold at par. Now ave per cent.
0oads are hard TO place at a third of one
per cent. per annum premium
And what are we promised for this ex-
travsgant outlay, simply the nlfby river
water " hich the Board of Pubic Works
have repeatedly pronounced unnt tor d.
uesfic use.
The city also proposes to enlarge its busi-
/ ness Of selling water, AZ which it always lost
money. and always will 80 long as 8 pfi-
vats water comp-ses. according % toe sworn
/ testimony OF President Thsyer, Of the
! board of Public Works and Chairman tsis-
/ bert OF ghe rhirteeD Committee il the in
junction suit against the Hydraulic Com
/ pang. That the privste company propose
/ 10 contin ae and enlarge their business i
| very evident. SiLos tbs injunction was
i dissolved lsst july, they have expended
| upward OF 500 CD il esteadlga their. plant.
/ The saprsme Court ms decided thar eau
i put their pile down ia every part OF the
/ city. and that Is what they eYi1ently In
tend doing.
/ l. there anv reai necessity for this vast
/ debt being fastened upon the city, Good
/ CONSERVATIVES. common sense judgment SAYS
no Leave the supplying OF oar cisy with
watsr 70 private enterprise. the sane as
/ bread. meat. fuel and sss are nov fur
/ nished There - no reason Why the city
/ should have a monopoly Of the wafer bBsi-
! ness. Let il coaaaue 10 furnish ifs present
| customers aad lsave - private eDteTpriss
| the worx and experiments Of Supplying the
addifions wster required.
kav nanbar OF oar wealthy citizens ara
| ready - take the contract aud bind them
sslves 10 fernisa gooi wsser for The ssms
! prics a. which sue CRY now supplies poor.
! fhss competition will insure g00s water
| good service and low prices and aToid iae
! NECESSITY Of large boadei inaeoseiiress and
/ hivh fsxes Then those N8o 80 water vii
pav for it. and taose Who a0n ase s. ere
/ nos called upon % pay fsr thas c5nsuu -
By othsrs.
Thls tax that re must vote these bonds
OF q wilhout water Is pure nonseDse- let
fne rftv advertise for pr0posas - farnssn
me whole o. sng psrt ofthe city VIZ wateg
for term Of rears. sua oefore week tasg
l ~ill hsvs a siozen bids frozo Responsible pri.
ssfe rarffrs. bstA a. home ard ssrosai %
{ sapplv al required. az lover prices % con-
sunaers thar ~ any other svssen. There
,s 10 tronble IN zefxiBg privste parties -
faruish water iusi a. gas - now suppiiest.
Nor = there .ny 0c1x<ft}1 tsr Heuop,elT ,
ia thss suxi1ess. sitAsr b tAs cry 0r sny
corporation.
euf even If the ctv r 10 eontin7e n ~
water business Ne certssnsy - nst w&at q
vofe ho1ds fer 1rana River w4ter, eesssass
shose wh0 nov nave Il n tAeir hocses q
/ ncf ke it 10 act want Is I'll not sse IS
snt thersiere, sh0uId ncf 5e msis n osv
- ANT MeSer5zBr